Backside breach man is put on probation

Published:14:08Wednesday 02 March 2011

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A Rothesay man who bared his backside at a car driving through the centre of the town was put on probation for two years this week.

Richard Howat (24), address given as 14 Church Lane, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to breaching the peace by baring his backside and kicking out at passing cars in Montague Street on November 28.

The court heard that Howat was seen on CCTV walking into the middle of the street, where he pulled down his tracksuit trousers and pointed his bottom at an approaching vehicle.

He stood aside to let the vehicle past, but then aimed a kick at it as it drew level with him. He then went into a nearby pub, where police arrested him a short time later.

On being taken to Rothesay police station, however, Howat became abusive towards officers, shouting racial abuse, and later, on being charged, replied: “I’d rather be a daftie than a screw.”

Jim Hannay, defending, said Howat had been drinking with friends earlier in the evening and had been in a good mood before being arrested.

“He seems to have recognised the difficulties he has with the taking of drink,” Mr Hannay continued, producing a letter from Howat’s grandmother indicating that her grandson was indeed trying to change his ways.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Herald told Howat: “You are beginning to build yourself quite a reputation in this town, and if you carry on the way you are going there is only going to be one disposal in the future – and that is going to be a lengthy period of imprisonment.”